Secrets Revealed - Chapter 3 by Athena nikita@sgi.net HI! HI! I know, it seems forever since I last submitted anything and I am truly sorry about that, but things have been really hectic in my life. But I managed to get a chapter done, so I hope that all of you enjoy this. The usual disclaimers apply here. Sailor Moon is not mine. A big thanks to Alicia Blade, as always, you are a pillar of strength and I wouldn't have survived the last month without your support! You're the best! Happy Thanksgiving! Athena P.S. A note to those of us in the U.S....the Cartoon Network is going to be running the conclusion to the Rubeus/Reeny saga starting Monday. So all of us that have been DYING to see the end to this get your VCRs ready! 17 lost episodes of Sailor Moon!! Wahoo!!!! *************************************************************************** "Where did he go?" Sailor Moon asked. The Scouts all looked at each other in confusion and finally Jupiter asked, "Who?" "Tuxedo Mask." she responded, her frustration evident. At this, Mars looked at her in frustration and said, "Come on Meatball Brain, you know he never sticks around after a battle." "I know that, Mars, but he was hurt! He got hit by one of those scissors! This is his blood on my gloves! Don't you remember hearing him scream?" The girls all looked a little surprised and then embarrassed as Mars reluctantly admitted, "I thought that you had screamed when you fell after that stunt you pulled." "AHHH!" Sailor Moon bellowed as she threw he hands up in frustration. She detransformed and stalked off. "Hey Serena, where ya going?" Jupiter called after her. "To look for him and don't bother following me either! I'm not in the mood for company!" The four girls just looked at each other and shrugged, finally Venus asked, "Anyone hungry?" The others quickly agreed, detransformed and left, ********************************* Slowly, Serena was walking the streets looking for any sign of Tuxedo Mask. she thought, She was just about to give up and go home when she spotted a familiar form ahead leaning heavily against a store window. She approached him with caution and when she reached his side she asked, "Darien, are you o.k.?" But that was before she looked up at his face, when she did, she gasped at what she saw. His eyes were closed, but the pain was evident on his handsome features. That's when she noticed that he was holding his shoulder and she gasped again when she saw how much blood was there. But what really surprised her was that there seemed to be some sort energy crackling from the wound and a small patch of a silver like substance in the wound itself. Tears blurred her vision as she whispered, "Oh Darien, what happened to you?" Slowly Darien opened his eyes and tried to focus on her. In a weak ragged whisper he asked, "Serena...please........help me." But it must have taken more energy than he had left because his eyes rolled back and he slumped to the ground. "Darien!" Serenea screamed and dropped to her knees at his side, shaking him trying to elicit a response from him. But none came. Serena didn't realize that a crowd had formed until she heard a familiar voice behind her. 'Serena! What happened???" Serena looked up to find Michael push his way through the crowd and joined her on the ground. Tears of relief spilled down her beautiful face as she said, "Michael! Oh thank goodness you're here! Please, help us...he's unconscious and he's hurt bad." Michael looked at Darien and noticed that his shoulder was covered in what looked like ice. "Serena, what's going on?" he said pointing to Darien's shoulder. Serena turned and hesitantly reached out to touch his shoulder, but quickly pulled her hand away once she had. "Oh my.." she whispered. "Why is he turning to ice?" Michael asked. "It's not ice...it's metal!" she said and then one thought lead to another and then it hit her, she thought. Quickly Serena;s mind began to work. "Michael quick, grab him before too many people realize what they are seeing. Do you have your car or bike?" "My car, why? Serena what's going on?" Michael demanded. "Just grab him and lets go! We;ve got to get him to my place and fast!" she said standing. Michael stood now too and grabbed her as she began to walk away, "Serena, he needs a doctor!" Serena looked at him and said, "No doctor can help him. Now grab him, I think that I hear a siren." Michael did as she said and lead the way to his car. Ten minutes later they burst through Serena's apartment door and she said a silent prayer of thanks that neither Luna nor Lita were around. "Put him on my bed!" she said as she went to look for some towels. Michael gave her a sour look, but did as she asked. When he was settle, Serena looked at him again and bit her lower lip to keep from crying out. He still hadn't regained consciousness and now his entire arm and the top of his hand had turned to metal. Michael noticed too and said, "O.k. now what?" Serena didn't say anything at first, she thought to herself. Then she looked at Michael and began to push him out of her room and towards the front door of the apratment. "I need you to go and find Ami and only Ami. Tell her what happened and that we need medical supplies here and to hurry. I don't think he has much time. Do NOT tell anyone one else, especially Raye. She'll whig something fierce if she finds out her boyfirend is lying unconscious on my bed. "O.k., but just one question..." she looked at him expectantly, "Where do I find Ami?" Serena rolled her eyes and said, "Try the arcade, we usually go to eat after a....a study session." she said hoping that he missed her near screw up. He did and he ran out the door. Quickly Serena ran back to her bedroom and stopped to look at Darien. She knew that she had to act quickly, but she didn't know if she could. Turning she went over to her dresser and began to dig through her jewelry box. Finally she found what she was looking for...a necklace with a key on it. she thought. Then she held the key in the air and yelled, "Crystal...Key...take me to Puu!" A pink cloud appeared over her and then a moment later pulled her through, leaving a now moaning Darien alone. ******************************** Serena entered the mist filled area that Sailor Pluto, the Guardian of Time, called home. Up ahead, Serena saw the silver gates of time and headed towards them hoping to find Pluto there. When she had just about reached the gates, the mist suddenly thickened and a voice called out, "STOP! You are a trespasser here! As punishment for trying to enter the Gates of Time, I will destroy you!" Serena saw the Garnet Orb in Puu's Time Staff glow through the mist and knew that she only had moments before she was killed. "Puu! It's me...Serena!!! Please! I need help!" Sailor Pluto hesitated for a moment at the familiar nickname. Se lessened the mist to identify the trepasser. Standing before her was a tear stained Serena. "Oh, Princess, please forgive me. I did not know that it was you. In the future, I suggest that you announce yourself when you cross over." she said with a smile as she tried to bow her head to Serena, but instead was nearly knocked over as Serena threw herself into her arms. "Oh Puu, it's awful. Please, I need your help. Darien, he's...." "Yes, I know your highness, I saw." she said sadly as she stroked Serena's head. "What can I do Puu? I can't leave him like this...to..to die! I can't!" "I'm sorry Princess, but you that I cannot reveal the future, even to you." Angrily Serena pulled away from her and said, "I know that! I'm not asking you to tell me the future, just if I have the power to do it!" But Pluto didn't say anything, she merely stared at Serena. This angered Serena to the point of hysterics as she spat, "Say something, damn you!!! I love him and I won't just stand by and let him die if I have the power to save him!" But Pluto remained silent. Then a soft familiar voice penetrated Serena's tirade. "Don't berate Pluto, Serena. You know that she cannot help you." Serena turned to see Queen Serenity standing behind her. "Queen Serenity!" Serena breathed as she came face to face with her mother. "Please mother, tell me, do I have the power to save him?" Queen Serenity looked at her tearful daughter and said, "My dear daughter, you can do anything that you wish. The power is in you and the crystal. It is all a matter of desire and the strength of that desire. If it is your desire to save this man, then it will be so....but you must hurry, he is almost out of time." Serena smiled and would've hugged her if she could have, but instead said, "Thank you, Mother." and disappeared. Queen Serenity looked at Pluto and nodded and Pluto nodded back and then she too disappeared. ********************************** Serena found herself standing in her bedroom, the Crystal Key still clutched in her small delicate hands. She stood there, confused for a moment until a moan caught her attention. She turned and suddenly remembered what she had to do. "Darien!" she gasped. She dropped the key back in her jewelry box and then transformed. Once transformed, she removed the ISC from its resting place on her Moon Glaive and walked over to Darien. Tears welled up in her eyes again as she looked at him. His entire right side was totally covered with the metal now. He moaned again and Sailor Moon knew that she had to act quickly now. But first she reached out and brushed Dairen's now sweat soaked bangs from his closed eyes and then leaned over and gently kissed his lips. Then she straightened up and held the Crystal in the palms of her gloved hands. She stared at it intently now, concentrating, making it glow and finally hover just above her hands. The words of her mother ringing in her head, . Then she whispered, "Moon Healing Activation." The light from the Crystal intensified for a brief moment before shooting out towards Darien and bathing him in its silver warmth. Sailor Moon kept concentrating and finally, the metal began to disolve and disappear. Sailor Moon wasn't sure how much longer she could do this as she felt her life's energy being drained by the Crystal. Finally the room began to spin for her and the light from the Crystal dissipated and then vanished all together as she collapsed on the floor of her bedroom. Her last thought before the blackness overtook her was and then oblivion claimed her.